Women and girls Sunday celebrate Libya’s liberation in Freedom Square in Misrata. Libya’s transitional leader declared the liberation after an eight-month civil war and envisioned a future with Islamist influence.

BEIRUT — Libya’s new rulers declared their nation “liberated” on Sunday, opening the way for elections and a constitution that the revolutionary government says will put the country on a path to its first representative democracy.

The declaration in the eastern city of Benghazi — where mass protests in February ignited what became a national rebellion — came three days after Libya’s longtime ruler, Moammar Gadhafi, was slain in his home city of Sirte as the city was overrun by revolutionary forces.

Officials say Gadhafi was killed in battle or in a crossfire after he was captured. But the nature of his death, apparently from a bullet to the head, has raised suspicions that he may have been executed while a prisoner. His body has remained on display in Misrata, which was largely destroyed during the war.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, leader of the transitional government and a justice minister during Gadhafi’s rule, declared the nation of 6 million liberated.

“You should only embrace honesty, patience and mercy,” Abdul-Jalil told a flag-waving crowd of several thousand at the ceremony in Benghazi, the birthplace of the uprising. He did not mention the circumstances surrounding Gadhafi’s death.

Abdul-Jalil laid out a vision for a new Libya with an Islamist tint, saying Islamic Sharia law would be the “basic source” of legislation and that existing laws that contradict the teachings of Islam would be nullified.

He outlined several changes to align with Islamic law, including putting caps on interest for bank loans and lifting restrictions on the number of wives Libyan men can take. The Muslim holy book, the Koran, allows men up to four wives.

Abdul-Jalil thanked those who fought and fell in the war, saying they “are somewhere better than here, with God.” Displaying his own piety, he then stepped aside from the podium and knelt to offer a prayer of thanks.

But it will be left to future lawmakers to determine how much influence Islam will have in Libya.

Islamists are one of a number of groups seeking a stake in the new Libya, which is about to undergo a radical restructuring after Gadhafi’s 42-year domination. A major challenge will be to form some kind of consensus government despite regional and tribal differences. The nation’s new leaders hope to disarm the many militias that ousted Gadhafi and funnel their members into a new military and police corps.

While Arab Spring revolutions also triumphed in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, ousting entrenched autocratic rulers, both nations had functioning government structures, including militaries, that survived their revolutions. In Libya, however, Gadhafi’s regime left few traces of government behind, meaning that the new rulers must create a brand new system. Much of the Gadhafi-era elite — including relatives and cronies of the leader — have also been toppled.

It was not clear when the first elections would be held, though some have called for voting within eight months for an interim government.

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